Use of school buses for public purposes.

(1)(a) Each district school board may enter into agreements with the governing body of a county or municipality in the school district or any state agency or agencies established or identified to assist in the provision of public transportation and other public purposes, including, but not limited to, providing for the needs of the transportation disadvantaged, as defined in s. 427.011, including, but not limited to, the elderly, pursuant to Pub. L. No. 89-73, as amended, for the use of the school buses of the school district by departments, boards, commissions, or officers of such county or municipality or of the state for county, municipal, or state purposes, including, but not limited to, transportation of the transportation disadvantaged or other public purposes. Each such agreement shall provide for reimbursement of the district school board, in full or in part, for the proportionate share of fixed and operating costs incurred by the district school board attributable to the use of the buses pursuant to the agreement or attributable to the maintenance or other activities conducted by the district school board.

(b) Each district school board may enter into agreements with local workforce development boards for the provision of transportation services to participants in the welfare transition program. Agreements must provide for reimbursement in full or in part for the proportionate share of fixed and operating costs incurred by the district school board attributable to the use of buses in accordance with the agreement.

(c) Each district school board may enter into agreements with nonprofit corporations and nonprofit civic associations and groups to allow the use of school buses to transport school-age children for activities sponsored by such associations and groups, including, but not limited to, the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs, the Y.M.C.A., and similar groups. The use of school buses for these activities shall be pursuant to rules adopted by the district school board and with compensation to the district school board at least equal to the costs incurred by the board for such use.

(2)(a) The governing body or state agency or agencies established or identified pursuant to Pub. L. No. 89-73, or the nonprofit corporation or nonprofit civic organization or group, or an agency established or identified to assist the transportation disadvantaged as defined in s. 427.011, or a public agency otherwise receiving services from a district school board shall indemnify and hold harmless the district school board from any and all liability by virtue of the use of the buses pursuant to an agreement authorized by this section.

(b) For purposes of liability for negligence, state agencies or subdivisions as defined in s. 768.28(2) shall be covered by s. 768.28. Every other corporation or organization shall provide liability insurance coverage in the minimum amounts of $100,000 on any claim or judgment and $200,000 on all claims and judgments arising from the same incident or occurrence.

(3) When the buses are used for nonschool purposes other than the transportation of the transportation disadvantaged, the flashing red lights and white strobe lights shall not be used, and the “School Bus” inscriptions on the front and rear of the buses shall be covered or concealed.